Top SPLA army General resigns from South Sudan government

October 10, 2016 (JUBA) – A top army General in the South Sudan’s national army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has resigned from the government, accusing President Kiir and his inner circles of violating the peace agreement and wanting to take the country back to war over the creation of illegal 28 states.

Lt. Gen. Bapiny Mantuil Wichjang, the Deputy Chief of General Staff for Moral Orientation in the South Sudanese national army and also a brother to the current Governor in the oil rich Unity state, Nguen Mantuil Wicjang, declared his resignation in a press statement he issued from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

“With heavy heart, I have decided to tender to your Excellency my resignation as SPLA D/COGS [Deputy Chief of General Staff] for Moral Orientation…,” said Lt. Gen. Bapiny in the statement, dated 7 October, a copy of which Sudan Tribune obtained.

The army General who was the most trusted top army commander representing the forces of Bul Nuer allied to President Kiir’s government and control most of the government-held areas in the oil rich state, said he was accused by his own brother, Governor Nguen, and the President of rejecting the creation of the 28 states.

In his statement, Lt. Gen. Bapiny said he clearly stated his opinion to the president in the past that the creation of the 28 states was a clear violation of the August 2015 peace deal signed with the opposition group led by Riek Machar.

He accused the president and the Jieng [Dinka] Council of Elders (JCE), an informal Dinka tribal advisory body composed of Dinka intellectuals and senior politicians from across the Dinka inhabited states, of taking lands away from other communities and giving it to the Dinka communities in Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions.

As a result, while on a trip to Germany for medical treatment in March this year, he said the Chief of General Staff, Paul Malong Awan, ordered that his residence be searched and bodyguards disarmed.

“On the 24th of March 2016, the Chief of General Staff ordered a search into my private residence and a force comprised of military police and MI [Military Intelligence] personnel came and disarmed my bodyguards and the security of the residence was reduced to zero because all the guns were taken away,” Lt. Gen. Bapiny narrated in the statement.

“He [Malong] did that because on the 14th of March 2016, Nguen the Governor of Unity state lied to them that I was going to declare my intention to join the opposition or SPLM-IO once in Nairobi. I was already in Nairobi on my way to Germany before the 24th and the declaration never happened because it was a wild lie fabricated by both Tut Gatluak [Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs] and Nguen [Governor],” he said.

PLANNED ASSASSINATION

The resigned General Bapiny, who was also an insider in the security plans also revealed that there was a suggested plan by the government to assassinate Taban Deng Gai, the newly appointed First Vice President while he was leading opposition’s advance team to Juba in February this year.

He revealed that he personally received a copy of a joint written recommendation from his brother, Governor Nguen Mantuil and the presidential advisor on security affairs, Tut Gatluak, to President Salva Kiir to assassinate Taban Deng.

He also said the leaked document recommended that he, General Bapiny and General Stephen Buay Rolnyang and another General Manyuat, all from Bul Nuer, be arrested.

“On the 29th of February 2016, I obtained a report that was written to the President by the Presidential Advisor Tut and Governor Nguen with the recommendation that Taban Deng Gai (who had just come to Juba with the advanced team of SPLM in Opposition) should be assassinated and Maj. Gen. Buay, Maj. Gen. Manyuat and myself to be arrested,” he revealed.

In March, a month after the leaked report, he said the two Generals Buay and Manyuat were actually arrested by the government, while he [Gen. Bapiny] was in Germany for the treatment.

However, there was no assassination attempt on the life of Taban Deng, probably because the President did not act upon the alleged recommendation.

General Bapiny in the statement said he would from now on join “his people” to free them from the regime of President Salva Kiir without indicating if he would joint the armed opposition or not.

General Peter Gatdet Yak, another opposition General, is also from the Bul Nuer clan.
He defected from the opposition led by Machar, but he is purportedly considering to rejoin Machar’s opposition faction to topple the government.

Also opposition’s officials claim that General Bapiny, may join them.

(ST)

Comments on the Sudan Tribune website must abide by the following rules. Contravention of these rules will lead to the user losing their Sudan Tribune account with immediate effect.

- No inciting violence
- No inappropriate or offensive language
- No racism, tribalism or sectarianism
- No inappropriate or derogatory remarks
- No deviation from the topic of the article
- No advertising, spamming or links
- No incomprehensible comments

Due to the unprecedented amount of racist and offensive language on the site, Sudan Tribune tries to vet all comments on the site.

There is now also a limit of 400 words per comment. If you want to express yourself in more detail than this allows, please e-mail your comment as an article to comment@sudantribune.com

Kind regards,

The Sudan Tribune editorial team.

11 October 2016 07:40, by Ayuiu Makuac Lam

Benypiny Monytuil, is already a rebel leader, let him go to do whatever he thought to do.

This is proof that Kiir planned the murder of his Vice President Taban Deng Gai in February.
It was already clear that Kiir planned to murder his Vice President Riek Machar in July.
What are the hopes of a peaceful settlement for South Sudan now that all political leaders know they can be murdered and there are NO LIMITS on what actions the President can attempt?

Who would want murder Taban Deng Gai if not the Nuer themselves who feel that the very peace loving man is a traitor!?Don’t just incite hate while you enjoy peace wherever u r.We r one people who just don’t want to accept ourselves because of God’s own reason or because of our own fault.please don’t spill hatred here on this site if you are not wise or educated enough.IDIOTS shut up.love Nuers.

All those rebel against the government were rebels before and they will remains as rebels. Bapiny is a warlord like Khalid, Riek, Pagan, Majak, Oyai, Olony, Adwok and others who join will die as warlord.

Last week it was Lt. Gen Butrous Khaled of Cobra Faction who rebelled, this week Lt. Gen. Bapiny Monytuil who has rebelled and next week? Taban Gai? It shows Kiir is very confused now and everybody is running away. Next time he will rebel himself, throw away the presidency and go to M7 in Uganda as a refugee. He is tired already.

the report is questionable. it could be another fabrication by armies of the government. we need news from Kenyan news agencies or other credible sources. Sudan tribune is simply run by primitives who do not know the credibility of news outlet.

When someone is rebelled against government malfunction, you guys quickly labelled that person as corrupted and looter and when that person return to the government you praised him/her as patriotic one. The question is why the government didn’t launched investigation when said individual in government while looting? living on lies and false accusation will not help the situation, better we put on.

Brave face and admitted that, were wrong and we are wrong and we will to continues to be wrong, so that we jointly sit and work out better strategies and system that will address all the mistake ware committing. I don’t want to be bias, but Nuer themselves are the very one who are making the bad situation worst. fighting the government and joining the very same government is the one

causing the collapse of August 2015 peace agreement. Lul Ruai, Taban Deng, Peter Gadet and many more did fought hard to force government accepted peace. Unfortunately at the time things should be smooth, you simply surrender your bloodshed to the same people. May be sometime you over react and simply lost steam at fast rate. You give in to JCE and Malong, Kiir is not the problem at all.

Rebellion isn’t sth new to draw attention in S. Sudan esp in Greater Upper Nile. It’s their normal habit. They rebel & surrender always b’se President Kiir’s govt personality is a good medium for them (rebels).

How many time could Nuer sons and duaghters take in their life time to rebel against their own system.Bapiny a brother to current governor of northern Liec, rebelled against his own brother leadership then Nuer rebellion is a perpetuated genetic heritage. shame on them.

Dear Joyuma John,
Bapiny did not rebel against own brother, he is getting him self at risk because his Body guards was disarmed by Malong Awan that show him that, there is no more trust again for him to be secure in JCE government. i was thinking that the SPLA- IG was a government that is why he fought seriously with IO forces in Unity state.

Continuation,
the disarmament of his body guards show him that he was support JCE government, not the government of South Sudan, his life can also be in risk if he resist to stay with Malong and Kiir Kuethpiny government. Malong always targeted nuer residents in Juba when the war start in Juba or some where else by targeting Nuer who are in the government, like what happen to Bol Kong in July 201.

Rebellion has become a business and is of course a chronic illness.How can Baphiny rebel against his own brother without a logical ground? The only solution to quell rebellion is through direct pursuing and kill of perpetrators.He(Baphiny)might have been bribed if not why did he fight these rebels under Koang Chuol in 2013 and join them now?

Mopeda, "every rebel commanders should come to government of Dr. Riak Machar for peace to prevail in S.Sudan?"
how many Dr. Riak Machar do you have in Nuer?
and if it is the same raik who is rebel, he is half dead and half alive! He is under intensive medical care here in Khartoum, he couldn’t able to speak. if u need peace to prevail in S.S follows: FVP Taban Deng Gai.

Thank you Bapiny for seeing the dirty politics which was played by Dinkia, because Dinkia are used you to killed your own citizen in Bentiu and also Dinkia are planned to kills you, because you discover their wrong plans.

Peter Gadet learnt about his assassination plan yesterday from Khartoum and many other top officials from Nuer in the Government their days are numbered and I think Taban Deng Gai will be the last to be executed when the BIG NUERS in the Government defect all, James Wani Igga and Elia Lomoro and stupid Luis Lobong from Equatoria will also be executed because are responsible for leaking Dinka’sPlan

Africa and UK Brexit2018-03-10 22:34:34
By Ambassador Dhano Obongo
Brexit is the media usage for Britain exiting the European Union (EU). After four decades of membership, last year England voted to quit the EU. Trade impacts will (...)

Petition for release of Agou John Wuoi from prison2018-02-15 20:45:31
Open letter to South Sudan President Salva Kiir
Your Excellency,
Kindly please permit me to take this rare opportunity to appreciate you for every effort you have made toward making South Sudan (...)